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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Six Year Blogiversary

This is a celebratory day of sorts, and it nearly got by me. Six years ago today I began blogging. I can hardly believe it's been that long - really! I have received so much more than I have given. I have met some of the most amazing people I have ever known. Their love, faith, encouragement and friendship have enriched my life beyond measure.

"They" are you. Thank you dear friends for the gift of sharing your lives with me. I am immeasurably better for having you in my life.

What follows is, for better or worse, the very first post I wrote as a brand new blogger:

I've been a Christian since I was a litle girl, but I find that even
with that "headstart" there are so many lessons that are very difficult
to learn. It was a time when I desperately wanted the Lord to do
something for us.

.I prayed fervently, had others pray, sought counsel,
did everything I knew to do, and heaven was silent. Then one morning as
I was sweeping the kitchen floor, it was as though an audible voice
spoke to my heart, "All right Linda. I have heard your prayers, and I
have a question for you. Do you want me to give you what you've asked
for, or do you want My will in this very difficult situation?"

It was,
for me, a life-changing moment. I knew then that no matter how
desperately I felt I needed something, if I truly loved the Lord as I
said I did and believed His word, what I truly wanted more than anything
else was His will. Our situation didn't change, but I did. I gave it
to the Lord, and He gave me all I needed.

So....lesson learned
- or maybe not. *We have recently had something come into our lives
that has eclipsed anything we have ever faced. There were times I felt
as though the weight of it had buried me alive. I had dreaded it for
months; prayed so hard that God would deliver us from it. However, my
worst nightmare came true, and I was devastated. I felt such
disappointment with God, I couldn't pray for a very long time.

He never gave up on me. He patiently waited until I knew that there
was nowhere else to run but to Him. When I finally did, I came face to
face with what is so basic in my relationship with the Lord.

Do I
trust Him? Do I trust that He will indeed work all things together for
our good. Do I believe He loves us with a love that knows no bounds?
Do I believe He is in control and wasn't taken by surprise by any of
this? I do. I believe He is who He says He is, and I believe He can
do what He says He can do (Yes, I did that Beth Moore "Believing God"
Bible study.).

Perhaps the miracle is waiting for us some time in the
future; perhaps He has a different purpose in all of this. I only know I
must trust Him, because without Him nothing makes sense. He is my hope
and my joy. He has given me that peace that passes understanding. It
is truly a miracle. I thought there would never be joy or peace or hope
again. I was wrong. He is all those things and more. He knew us
before the foundations of the earth, and He has a plan - to prosper us,
not to harm us. He is so very good.

My heart's desire is to encourage and point others to the Lord in everything I write. You'll find my words here on my blog and on the devotional website Laced With Grace. I recently published my first book, Chronicles of Miller's Crossing: Sleeping Dogs, a cozy mystery. You can read about it by clicking on the Books link.